Formation Fluid Property Logging From Drilling Gas Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for characterizing earth formations during drilling operations lack the ability to provide detailed, high-resolution information about formation fluids, limiting efficient resource utilization and operational efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for generating a nearly continuous log of formation fluid properties versus depth by analyzing drilling fluid samples for entrained formation gas, using a drill string, gas extractor, and gas analyzer to determine chemical composition and apply known correlations for fluid properties, enabling high-resolution property logs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual interpretation of drilling fluid gas data is used, then expertise and judgment are applied, but the process is time-consuming and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic generation of fluid property logs by processing drilling fluid gas data through computational algorithms without requiring manual expert intervention. The processor automatically correlates gas data with drilling parameters to generate interpreted logs, making the system self-sufficient in the interpretation task.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of expert interpretation with an automated computational system. The processor uses algorithms to analyze drilling fluid gas data and generate fluid property logs, substituting human cognitive work with automated data processing and correlation methods.
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive fluid property analysis is performed, then accurate reservoir characterization is achieved, but data processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the complex fluid property analysis into distinct processing stages: acquiring drilling fluid gas data, correlating with drilling parameters, processing through specific algorithms, and generating interpreted logs. This segmentation manages complexity by breaking down the overall task into manageable computational steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The processing system is designed to handle multiple types of data (drilling fluid gas data, drilling parameters) and generate comprehensive fluid property analyses through a single integrated processor that performs correlation, computation, and log generation functions.
3Speed
If real-time monitoring is implemented, then immediate drilling decisions can be made, but data acquisition and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary processing of drilling fluid gas data as it is acquired, correlating with drilling parameters and generating fluid property interpretations in real-time. This preliminary action enables immediate drilling decisions without accumulating large volumes of unprocessed data.
Solution Approach 2:
The processing system operates continuously alongside data acquisition, constantly correlating new drilling fluid gas data with drilling parameters and generating updated fluid property logs. This continuous processing maintains real-time monitoring capability while managing data throughput efficiently.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for generating a log of a value of a property of a fluid in an earth formation versus depth includes: obtaining a plurality of samples of drilling fluid that are entrained with a formation gas and correlating each sample to a depth in a borehole from which the formation gas was entrained in the drilling fluid; extracting the formation gas from each sample to provide a plurality of gas samples; analyzing each formation gas sample to provide a chemical composition of each formation gas sample in the plurality of formation gas samples; and determining a property value of the fluid in the earth formation versus depth using the chemical composition of each formation gas sample in the plurality of formation gas samples to provide the log.